Sausage linking machine



J. H; MILLER I SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE Fil n 9 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 {mum aummmnn i Hhuu 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. H. MILLER SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE Flled June 6 1930 Dec. Z, 1931 .1. H. MILLER 1,839,043

SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE Filed June 6; 1950 '8 Sheets-Sheet 3 W h v 4U 1 I 3/ J/ '/-3 i Ill? 3 nil-mum Dec. 29, 1931. J, H, MlLLER 1,839,043

SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. H. MILLER SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Dec. 29, 1931 JOSEPH 1a: lvrr nmyor senrmneo; cmpmonnm I V SZAU'SAGE III'NKING MACHINE Epplitatibm filedl 111mm 6} of-the sausages and thus producing a. chaim of connected: sausageshich: may he then 'transfierred to. a: smoke-houseiandeaf-tenw ands separatedzorcsevened .fnonnthe nestof theeh ain according to 1 the: requirementsof the dealer. and) usen: 1 1

The object of? the invention;iseto profliderae novel; method; and aqajpauatus f-orr thee pncdu'e tion on link: sausages, in l which operations are: automatic, expeditious, economical; and of such a characterr'thatftherproductinn' of: the linked sausagesmay be: pent-armed; on an extensi'veisc'ale. 1

"It: h as. been; heretofore customaryin. the.- manufacture of sausagesito. fonnnthe same; into links by slow anditedious;methods whichr contemplated; the formation; 013' such sausages separately lay: stuflinger. fillingya sufiieient lengthoii the casing to; constitute. atsausage andi therenfiten twisting. the" filled-1. portion at; its vpoint;of:connection with the casing. This openation: has. 1 generally been, pen formed-- handandhasvheem found torbe; slow and, Lmcentain: and consequently not. adapted to the manuiiacture-acit 'lihkedisausages 01113.11? extensive:scalm.v r The object" of: tflmrrpr'esent; insreutiom is, to 1 provide a. method andz-means' JEQITT'thBIQXIQQdLlP tious" production. of? linked sausageson anzex tensive scale ands. to efi'ectfi the fonmatiom. 025 Stuffed: or filledscasings, into connected links such lnethnd. and. meanszheihg: automaticnand oirsuch a character-that manygca sihgs may at a tiinevhe neducedito: separahle; connected linksand. during; one: continuous openatio-n made inflow complete? clmins.-- 0t links andeso; disposed of; aster hev in; condition fortrans.- iiei tothe smoke-house; without fu rthe t, treatment. y The: invention. is: cannied into; effect By;

meanszof a machine. on afmanatusembodying asugporin'jng. stnucture; or flame in there. is. rovidedi; meme. in the nature of a 1980.; Seriah Nor. 4593MB;

tuhula t eonduit arnangedlat an. angle or inelihation, into. and. through which, the. filledl casing isq assed-z through. an. opening. in upper' end and. thence downwaiidlthrough a. series. oi tubular guides 'Whiclifensure; the 66 p 'opennetentihn .ofithe unlihliediandlencased sausage.v during. itsgpassage anch treatment. to the. outlet. of. the tubular housing; wherein.

thelinksafejproducedi.

into. two; sections. on, members hinged together and havlng meeting surfaces on a, chanaetraeal. plane. and. nonided with interlocking: means; located opposlte the hinges.

The interior of the tubular conduit isgen- 66.

anally 01f. cylindrical. form and. Within: its bone-thereare. fitted".a;. seriesofdiu'ms, which. are. rotatahleflthereih, their. bearings being the inneu surf-aces./ othe: conduit;

WVithin. each. drum. and secured" thereto, a: 7m

shout. tube"? i shmounted'i andl through. such tubes the stuffed sausage. length. is passedt amt-guided. a K

The senenal drums. are, in; axialla lignment. and aa'e :a mang-ed and, adapted. to be rotated 75, in succession. Each drum is equijopedwith m-eehanislmto measureflofli and divide from V the: main. length: of the sausage! a, suifi'cient.

length or portion to form a single sausage. unit,.. and is; also. @rovidect' With. means, for 89. clamping each such length. oivmelasunedi pore tion co npnessing thesausage ata pointfor twisting and then: hveistingctheclamgedi sail.- sage: unit to; forlmthe usuah connecting, neck Without twistin'gon moving; the filled-casing ahoveathzis neck. '7

The arrangement and operation is such. that; each i sausage-unit is? individually segregated from the main body or l BDgthmOf stuzflfeda casing; and; given the" necessary twist to form a neck at its point oiconnection; and; that: the? several; sausages ane: given this twist in succession from tlIBBlGWIEI" therup-- per end': of? the conduit or though.

- g5 Thelength of stuff-ed casing is fed'through 1 the trough and li'nlfz: fonmin'gfdevices 15y grav- 'ity; and as the linked units are caused toleave the link forming devices they are passed through atuhe and deposi'ted iII parallel lihes 100 111111511115 lan conduit. is. diitidedllbngitudi- 60.

on a tray, which when filled is transformed to the smoke-house or other depository.

This tray is associated with mechanism constituting an important feature of the invention, which is so constructed and arranged that the tray is given a reciprocatory movement lengthwise to promote the deposit therein of the linked sausages in parallel lines or rows, and also is given a lateral movement so as to space the rows or lines, apart, and insure an orderly and compact disposition of the same.

In its complete form and equipment the invention embraces features by which a large number of individual units may be operated at a time by co-acting and co-related connections, so that the production of many chains of linked sausages may be effected at a time and durin a given period.

With the objects in view as herein recited, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of elements for carrying into effect the operation before described.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine as a whole.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partly in section, of the upper part of the chute or trough.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of a part of the chute and its internal equipment.

Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections on the lines 2 and 3 respectively of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. at is a view in elevation of a portion of the chute in open position.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, the chute being closed.

Fig. 6 is a similar section, the chute being open.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the chute on the line 66 of Fig. 2, the chute being closed.

Fig. 8 is a similar section on the line 66, the chute being open.

Figs. 9 and 10 are transverse sectional views of the line 22 of Fig.2.

Figs. 11 and 11 are fragmentary views in elevation of the link forming drum.

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view of the receiving tray.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of part of the same.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the trayholding frame.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the reciprocating tray carrier.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the tray operating mechanism.

Fig 17 is a diagrammatic view of the equipment for the use of a plurality of sausage linking units.

The reference numeral 2, designates the main frame of the apparatus which may be constructed in any suitable manner of uprights, cross beams and braces.

Upon the frame 2 is supported the main chute or trough, 2", within which the several operations incidental to the production of the sausage links are carried on.

This trough or chute, is an elongated metallic'structure composed of two members, 3 and 4 respectively, which are hinged together, as shown at 5, at one edge of a diametrical plane on which the two members meet when closed together.

These members are adapted to be opened and closed, and are provided with levers, 6, mounted on the stationary member 4, between lugs 77, and adapted to engage with be"- eled blocks 8 attached on the outer surface of the hinged movable member 3, when the chute is closed. The interior of the chute is of general cylindrical. form, and its inner walls form bearings for the drums within which the sausage holding, twisting and linkforming devices are mounted.

Except as hereinafter specified the drums are all of similar structure and equipment. As many of such drums as may be needed are fitted within the chute and are rotatable, such rotation being produced from the operation of suitable'crank or motor shaft 8 located at the lower end of the chute or trough.

This shaft 8 which rotates in a bearing, is threaded, and its threaded portion engages with a threaded bearing 11, in a part of the main frame so as to move lengthwise on being rotated. The upper end of the shaft 8 is attached to the base of a special drum 12, arranged within the chute so that as the shaft rotates, the drum 12 will also rotate, and will accordingly be moved upward.

Within the cylinder or drum-12 is fitted a diametrically positioned bar 13, resting on the base of the drum 12. The drums, through the rotation of which the twisting of the stufl'ed casing or cord, is effected, are designated generally by the numerals 3 4 applied respectively to the two members of which said drum is composed.

They are arranged in serial order one above the other and are disconnected from each other except as hereinafter detailed.

Referring to the lowermost of these drums, it will be seen that it carries on its base portion a pair of pivotally suspended blocks or tongues 16, which are arranged so as to be free'to move in one direction, but are prevented from moving in the other direction.

When, by the operation of the shaft 8 the drum or cylinder 12 is turned and consequently moved upwardly, a certain distance, the bar 13' will come in contact with the tongues 16 and through them, impart rotation in one direction to the adjacent drum 3 -4 and as will be presently explained, this drum will subsequently communicate similar rotating movement to the next drum above, and

assume the latter will in turn communicate similar motion to thethirdf'drum and so 'onuntil all the drums are caused to rotate in unison. Referring again specially to the lowermost drum 3 i and the succeeding-drum, it will be convenient and desirable to explain the interior construct-ion and equipment of these two drums as illustrativeand explains As will be seen,the drums consisteaclrof two semi-cylindrical halves S 14 hinged together atone side of a diametrical plane so that one may be lifted on its hinges'a certain distance, and by means hereinafter described, locked at such position. 5 i r The numeral 17 designates a short tube lo: cated inthe section 4 of each drum andof a size to allow the stuffed sausage casingito pass freely therethrough so that thegtrough or chute may have fed into it a" sufii'ciently long section of sausage stock to form a' num: v

her of sausages. Other. guards: to prevent displacement of the sausages may be located atpoints betweenthe tubes 17, as will be described presently. 1 1

Each drum isofa length corresponding to the desired length of a single sausage or unit and near the upper end of each drum. section 4%; pivoted lever .18 is mounted, and so positioned that the blade l9, carried thereby shall, when the drum is; open, be abovethat portion ofthe casing wheresit. is desired to form and twist the neck or joint; This lever is normally heldin position abovelor to one side of the: sausage cord and when'tthe drum is closed its. blade 19 is pressed-downupon the cord, thus producing a closed seam or flattened portion, which separates. the contents of one'sausage unit from the cord above and produces an untwisted neck.-

This action of the lever-"and blade isiproduced by means ofa bifurcated"lever-19 mounted on thesection 3 ,.of1the: drum.

hen-the. relatively movable section or half of the druin is closed down uponthe other section 4 the. lever 19. comes in Contact with studs 20, projecting from .the sides of the blade lever 18, andforces the blade down upon the filledcasing as before] mentioned. It

will be noted that. the bifurcated lever 19 is of a tapering form and that, after depressing the lever 18, its beveled or oblique lower edge, slips past the studs 20011 the' lever 18 and releases the latter from positive pressure so that it may rise when the conduit or'chute, is opened and the two members ofthe drum parted at their free edges, 5

When this partingof. he drummembers takes place, the lever 19 ,'which:is-m0unted on 'the swinging member 3 of the. drum, is lifted therewith above the blade, and swung outof the path of the latter; 1 f

The blade baror lever, 18, is,,as wil1 be seen, mounted on a post 19- secured to the andlis niovable lengthwise of the postf 19,

so -as to=respond to pressure from the lever 19- springs' 20 being mounted on the-post 194, tohold the lever 18" in yielding restraint and proper position relatively. to the other elementswithwhich itico operates.

Asawill lie-understood from the preceding description and will be further and more 'f-ullyexplained, the. filled sausagecasing which may be" briefly defined as a cord, is fed into therchuteor conduit, through the top opening. and to or out of the'lower end of theJchute-thus passing through the "central:cavitiesoflallttheidrurns; .While the or conduit, is permanently fixed inposition. Thefdrum member to which is: attached the shorbtubs, and which. carries the die vidingiblade, is held inflocked position. by means of astud 22 on the lever 6,'which The lower or inner section, 4 of the chute passes througha hole 23,; in the stationary 7 member of the :chute andv enters a socket 24, in the wall of the drum section 4E which is to be held stationary when the chute and drums. are in open position. When thechute 1 and drums are closed, and

the/drum sectioned are released from en-,

gagementi of thestuds 22, theiposition of the socket int-he drum member 4 is suchthat the stud22zcan" OIIlYubB engaged with the member 4910f the drum when the drumissuch position relatively to the chute. that the plane or parting surface of the drum nrembersf areicoiincidentwith the planes of the partingedgesof the chute sections. a

It will bev underst'oo'd-therefore that the drums. cannot. heiturned or relatively displacedwhen thec'hute. and drums are open.

Itlwilli also be seen that when the chute is closed and with it thedrums'flhe latter are freelto turn andperform their intended func;

themember3 when the. chuteis closed, by

the, block." 46 1 acting of thelatch; V Y

It is nowagto be explained and understood that the apparatus. so-functions that: each sausage-unit.or link, when segregated from thecord-or length of casing,-and a neck '2. r

formed at-the twistgpart, is separately treated, that is .i turned :01' twisted. on its longitudinal-axis", but without turning the line or cord from which the link-isto be separated or 'llWlShQdA 1. New assuming that :the chute against the lower end relatively stationary member 4 of the drum, has been supplied with a; lengthbf sausage 153?? cord not yet formed into links, and that the conduit or chute has been closed and with it the drums, the operating shaft is then turned in the direction to move the drum 12, at the lower end of the chute, upward, 'until it engages with the lowermost drum 3 4: of the series, and imparts rotary motion thereto. At this period the first sausage link has been segregated from the main cord or length and being clamped within the lowermost drum, is turned on its axis and given the requisite twisted neck.

At the same time the untwisted links have been formed in all the drums, but these drums remain stationary until the first twist has been produced.

It is now to be explained that during the initial rotation of the first or lowermost drum, the latter moves upward under the propelling action of the operating shaft until it engages with the next drum and imparts rotary movement thereto, so that it will in turn function as did the first drum, and twist the sausage link held therein. It is to be understood, and as is made clear by the drawings, that when the first operation of twisting takes place, the drums are spaced apart longitudinally, and are not in any way operatively connected with each other.

Accordingly, when the first'drum is rotated all the others remain stationary and the first link is produced independently of the others. When, as explained, the first drum has engaged the second drum and the latter rotates, the link in the first drum is turned with the latter, but as it turns in unison with the second drum and its contained link, no further twist is produced in the first link.

As in the case of first drum the'second drum is also moved'upward, the upward movement of the first drum being continued.

The procedure is the same with each drum in succession, the line or chain of sausage links being gradually shortened by the formation of the twisted neck, as the drums gradually come together and shorten their line.

The engagement of each drum with the next drum above is produced as follows:

Each drum is constructed with a contracted cylindrical portion 3, at its lower end, and is provided at its wider continued cylindrical part with a depending block 3}, while the wall of the wider portion of the drum is formed with a recess at its upper end, in which is pivotally seated a bar P, which projects above its seat. As a drum moves upward while being rotated, the bar 4* comes in contact with the block 3, and through the same rotates the drum to which this block 3 is attached. The block 3 and the bar APare adapted for sliding engagement with each other, and are beveled as shown, so that should the two elements meet at their ends, the pivotal element 4 will be pressed downward so as to pass the end of the stationary member 3 and then rise, slightly resisted by the spring 25, and reach the proper position of engagement with the block 3*.

As the several drums are in axial alignment, and are relatively movable longitudinally in relation to each other, provision is made for the use of yielding coupling means which will permit of the expansion and contraction of the train or series of drums and to fully incase the sausages Within the drums at the twisting points.

For the purpose stated each drum has attached to and rising from, its upper surface, at a distance from its edge, a pair of semicylindrical walls 28, 29, respectively, which are projected inwardly and downwardly from their upper edges, while attached to the lower surface, near its outer edge, is a similar structure, but reversed. These structures as will be seen are in vertical sections of rectangular L-shape and are hooked together so as to be incapable of lateral disconnection, while being free to move relatively in an axial as well as circumferential direction. When these devices are in the coupled positions shown, the drums may be brought towards, or moved away from each other without producing open joints or seams. The relative axial movement of the drums is limited by the transverse connecting webs between the semicylindrical walls.

Attention is now called to certain structural features within the drum, which have not been heretofore explicitly described.

Reference has been made to the short tubes 17 through which the untwisted sausage cord or integument, passes. These tubes are located as shown, one at the upper end of each drum. Between these tubes there is located in each drum a metallic U-shaped trough 30, in which the sausage cord or filled casing rests, and above this trough there is arranged a closure or pressure bar 31 which forms a lid or top to the trough. This bar is slidably mounted on pins or posts, 32, encircled by springs 33, located between the bars and the inner wall of the swinging drum member, so that the bar 31,-has a spring restrained movement. This bar is adapted and intended to rest on the sausage or sausages, to clamp and hold them in proper position and prevent any displacement.

()ne of the walls or sides of the trough is higher than the other so that the bar will lie in an inclined position as shown, and rests at one side upon the edge of the shortened wall. This bar is brought into use when the drums and trough are closed and, in connection with the walls of the trough embrace the sausages in place against undue turning or other displacement, when they are being formed into link units. As will be seen the space between the trough of one drum and I while the drums above with their sausage-contents remain stationary,.

When .all'the' drums have been rotated and the sausage material" made into links,- the: trough and drums are openedf and" the sansages released'froin"the'gri'p of the" liars-"31, willslide downward by gravityand' pass through a h'oleBi lin the bottom of' thel'owermost drum,- and intotan' outlet tuhe35, through which they will p'ass 'to a snitably looatedtray. 4 This outlet tuhehas' a dhwnward in= cli'nation and' 'terminat'es at its loweren'df in a short substantially vertical; rtionAOJ f As it'is desirable tliatthe sausages" should he laid lengthwise ofthereceivingtray, the lower end \of'the outlet'tuhe'is'provided with a pivotall'y hung nozzle 41', having artapered form so thatthe ontcomihg'linlis will strike theinclined surface oftlie nozzle andiwill slightly cant itso that'the sausage-will issue there-from slightly out" of vertical lineand hedeposited on the trayfflatwiseiand in a unifhrm direction;

As before indicated the sausagesi'arexdeposited systematically in parallelrows on" a receiving: tray for transportation to the smoke-house. This tray, designatedhy the numeral $5, "is' an elongated rectangular structure andihas verticalfholesor' grooves, 48; inits side bars to receive the dowelpins 49 offa tray holding. frame 19 ofs'rrnilar form and size. The tray being detachable froin'frame 49 The latter is mounted" on a wider frame 50"whih is provided withwheels 51', arranged and'adapted to travehonthe tracks 52 attached to the main frame ofithe e machine An endless soro'cket chain 53", is carriedhy s'orooltetwheels 54;; 55, on horizontal shafts 5'6; 56,'1j onrnaled onthe mainifraine, and the shaft 56 is driven by suitable pulley a'nd lhelt equipments and. associatedfwith belt"v shaftmechanism whereby the. chain maybe driven. alternately in opposite directions.

Thischainis attached at 53% to the frame.

' The frame491 has-attached to one side. the flexible connections 57*, which pass over pul *leys: 58", mounted: on the 'main frame at one i side thereof and carrying? weightszn59w by whielr a latera'l ip-ull is imposed-on the: frame At each endzof' the frame: 49 a pin 60 projects downwardly fromthe under side of the frame, between the-crossgbars 61-62 at eaclren'db'f the wide frame. The frame 19 isarranged and adapted to -move sidewise arranged and adapted to move a measured distance longitudinally in two directions, the

extent of'lateral Inovement'heing limited to the length of the space between the end bars 6 1 -62 ofit-lie wideatrameg 50. a Y

Theseend liars carry the; horizontal: pins 61 62 5 in alternate order as shown,- and thesepins serve as stops to the lateral movement of thetrayand trayholder under thei following-describedconditions:

Assunaihg that" the-tray holder-is at the 1 limit of its-horizontal; movement one: di reCtioI-I; say to the l'eft, and that it is atthe limit of its l'ateralmovement on one side. At i this nositi'on the pin 69 proj acting dowrmrardirointhe-tray-lrolder is he-tween the side bar the tray holder: and thefirst' horizontal pin 61 projecting inwardly fromitheend bar of the wideffa1ne-59,.the: lattert'heing 57 under longitudinal movement the directionyof tl'rearrows in Fig. 16'; Asthe frame 50 continues to-move and 'a-t tlie end ofiitsitravel theendlofthe tray holder 419 will eventually strilie the cross hari65 attached tothe main frame and its movement will be arrested; the movement of the 'wide frame being. contIIHI-Gdi There-will' thusbe produced a. relahackward' movement of the: tray holder which willdisengagerthe vertical pin-:60 from contact with 1 the adj acent horizontal pin at the endof the wid'e'frame or carriage atjeach end -of the latter. :Thetrayframe will-then, under the in flnenee of the: weights, he pulled to one si-dera shortidistance; and; its-further movement willihe impeded by the; pins proj ecting" horizontally inward; from the second cross bar'of 'the carriages It is to he noted 'tliatwhenthe tray holder is in its mostiforwardz position atone end, and

'istravelling-in' a corresponding; dire ction the downwardly?projectingrpin- 60 is located between the nearest horizontal pinprojecting inwardly from the extreme-end :crosS bar of thecarriag, ;e.' v The othen end of the tray hol-der is==then atiits-mostt-inward-position, and

the vertical'ipin at'th'a t" end isenow on the oppositesidevof-the spacewbetween the end bars attthe: correspondihg: end of the carriage; so

that. in the longitudinal shifting; movement of th'e' trayholderg: the downwardly 'proi ecting pin: is opprosed -to the horizontal pins pro jecting from the second cross bar of; the earriager 1 and. is released? therefrom r by the forwiardltravel otwthetray holder;

As willbe seen, the tray holder is released 'fI'OlII 'iiESL impeding? horizontal pin at each end simultaneously. The; tray holder" being thus released'zatfhoth ends, will nowhe pulled 'to one-nside until zeach vertical pin. strikes the nextrhorizonta-l pin in its path-whereby furthen lateral movement of; the 1 trayis pre- Vented. While the carriage with the tray i holder andftrayare moving in one direction longitudinally; the sausages'will be deposited undrthe pull of the weights 59', and is alsobent at a linkedpoimt and,'as the tray holder and tray are then reversed in longitudinal movement, the next layer or line of sausages will be deposited on another course and so on until the tray has been filled with linked sausages lying in parallel lines.

The alternate to and fro movement of the carriage is produced by the shifting of the pulley belt from one pulley to the other.

Mechanism for shifting belts to produce reciprocating motion of a work carriage in machinery, is well known and in common use, and as I make no claim to any special mechanism for this purpose the same need not be described.

It may be here noted that in utilizing the machine, the sausage stock or filled cord, which is generally a section of the entrails or gut, of an animal, and constitutes a casing,

is dropped into the trough at its upper end emerge from the chute to be deposited in the tray, which they do by gravity solely.

The chute and drums are then closed and by the reverse movement of the operating shaft the drums are restored to their normal positions for the reception of another charge, it being noted that the uppermost drum is locked against vertical movement by studs and grooves 81, on the trough and drum respectively.

e instrumentalities so far described have been those constituting a. single unit, adapted to perform all the functions incident to the formation of a series or chain, of links in a single length of unlinked stock, and the deposit of the chains or linked portions on a single receiving tray, the latter being given a certain movement or series of movements for the purposes heretofore described.

Inasmuch however, as the main object of the invention is to provide means for the production of linked articles on an extensive scale and in the most expeditious and economical manner I have devised and proposed a construction and mode of operation of the units. whereby a large number of such units may be assembled as a plane or gang with the conveyers or chutes arranged in parallel relation and operated from a single source of power.

Fig. 17 of the drawings illustrates an ideal arrangement for this purpose, in which the several chutes are arranged in parallel order, and their twisting drums operated through the medium of a sprocket chain 70, engaging with sprocket wheels on the drum operating threaded shafts.

The sprocket chain is formed of links having wide spaces for the vertical travel of the shafts, and is driven by any suitable or convenient power;

The number of the units may be multiplied indefinitely and their use in the linking of a large number of sausages at one time enhances the economical value of the machine by reason of its increased output.

I claim i 1. A sausage link forming machine of the character described, comprising a chute a series of axially aligned rotatable drums mounted therein and adapted for the passage therethrough of stulfed sausage cord in unlinked lengths, said drums being arranged and adapted to be moved into consecutive engagement with each other, and being provided with means for compressing the sausage stock at definite intervals to produce twistable neck portions and with means for simultaneously rotating a drum and moving it axially into engagement with an adjacent succeeding drum, the engaging means being such that one drum rotates sufliciently to produce a complete twist'in the neck portion of its contained link, prior to its engagement with an idle drum.

2. In a sausage link forming machine of the character described, a chute, a series of neck twist producing drums mounted therein in axial alignment, and arranged and adapted to be rotated and moved axially, said drums being associated with means for imparting rotary motion thereto in successive order, and for moving a rotary drum axially into operative engagement with a succeeding idle drum to impart rotary motion to the latter.

3. In a machine of the character described, a series of rotary and axially movable drums, composed each of two sections of semi-cylindrical forms, hinged together at one side and arranged and adapted to be opened and.

closed, said drums being coupled together in axial alignment and successive order, and having expansible and contractable connecting means, whereby the drums may be moved consecutively into contracted and expanded.

positions, and whereby the drums may be clutched together, when brought in close axial relation and unclutched, when moved in an opposite direction.

4. In a machine of the character described,

and as recited in claim 3, the coupling means for the drums comprising joint members which will permit individual, independent, rotation of each drum.

The combination with a sausage linkingend of the path of the carrier, whereby the sausages may be deposited on the tray in parallel rows.

6. In a sausage linking machine as specified in claim 5, automatic means for the reciprocation of the carrier operable through the movement of the latter.

JOSEPH H. MILLER. 

